In the end of November, the European Commission has published its proposal for the future programme which is going to replace Youth in Action  - 'Erasmus for all: the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport' that describes its vision for the EU budget in the field of youth and education.

Against the advice of the youth sector, the Commission has decided to integrate all learning programmes into one mayor 'Erasmus for All' programme. You can read this proposal on following website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all.

Inspite of the significant budget increase for future programme, the focus on formal education and vocational training put at risk the core values of youth work and the independence of youth policy. That is why the Youth Forum and many other youth organisations stands firmly behind the request of a renewed separate Youth in Action Programme.

"Youth in Action is the only EU programme that provides support to youth work, non-formal education and youth organisations in Europe," affirms Peter Matjašič, President of the European Youth Forum. "As such, Youth in Action ensures and represents a visible EU youth policy initiative and the continuation of diversity, quality and the unique character of youth work in the long-term".

Moreover, there is a concern that the new proposal is focused on the needs of the labour market and the aspect of active European citizenship and participation is not adequately addressed. To achieve this, a new strong programme should encourage the participation of all young people in democratic life and recognise that youth-led, volunteer-based, democratic European youth organisations are an indispensable channel for supporting active citizenship and for developing young people's skills and competences, both for the needs of the labour market and for an active and inclusive European society, and as such need to be given specific support.

"Youth in Action must not lose focus on those elements that make youth and their organisations unique and specific," says Matjašič. "Therefore, we demand it to be independent and to give sustainable support to European youth organisations, to non-formal education and to youth work," concluded Matjašič.

For more information and to join the campaign 'Where are you going?', please go to http://www.whereareyouthgoing.eu/info and share this information on your network, with your partners and friends.